Baker Center closes early Monday night for security search

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Ohio University Police Department (OUPD) Chief Andrew D. Powers reported in an e-mail to the university community that OUPD's Tactical Team, with assistance from the Columbus Fire Department's bomb squad, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco and Firearms and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, conducted another search of Baker University Center. This second search included the use of bomb sniffing dogs. The building was closed at approximately 10
p.m., which is two hours earlier than its regular schedule, and as with the first search, nothing suspicious was found.

The e-mail was a follow up a message that he shared with the university community on Friday, Nov. 6, regarding a bomb threat received for Baker University Center.

According to Chief Powers, "All of our actions are in support of our first priority, which is the protection of our university community. Although we did not find anything that posed an immediate threat during our initial search of the building on Friday, we have increased security measures over the next several days as a precaution."

He went on to say that, at any time, OUPD might deem it necessary to conduct building searches without prior notification as well as emergency drills or other safety measures.

The university conducts ongoing monitoring and testing its various
emergency communications methods. In the event of an imminent threat, the university may rapidly deploy one or more of several of its emergency communication methods, including outdoor notification, CATVision alerts, emergency page updates, e-mail or text messaging.

"As always, we're asking that the university community continue to be alert and report anything suspicious to OUPD by calling 740-593-1911 or 911 immediately," said Chief Powers.